As
supporters and opponents continue battling over Chicago's newly passed
"big-box" ordinance in anticipation of Mayor Daley's decision on a
veto, the "Change Wal-Mart, Change America" bus tour rolled into town
Saturday.
Organizers of the grassroots campaign -- which is traveling by bus
through 19 states and 35 cities in 35 days -- say they are trying to
raise awareness of their complaints against Wal-Mart through a series
of town hall meetings.
"Wal-Mart is the most significant economic force in America today
that, unfortunately, has a negative impact on community after
community across the country," organizer Chris Kofinis told a North
Side meeting sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and attended by
union, religious and community leaders here who support Chicago's
ordinance.
"What this tour is about is making Wal-Mart realize you can be both
wealthy and responsible," Kofinis said.
Topping organizers' Wal-Mart gripes was its low employee wages and
benefits -- the complaint that helped organized labor sell aldermen on
a groundbreaking ordinance that, unless Daley vetoes it, will make
Chicago the nation's first major city to establish a wage and benefit
standard for "big box" retailers.
D-day: Sept. 13
Aldermen who oppose the ordinance, including several from
impoverished and retail-starved wards, argue their communities need
the jobs and sales tax revenue. Business leaders argue that nowhere in
the United States is there a living wage law applied exclusively to
retailing giants, and that passing one here puts Chicago at a
competitive disadvantage.
The ordinance, passed July 26 by a 35-14 City Council vote,
requires Wal-Mart and other "big-box" stores to pay employees $10 per
hour and $3 per hour in benefits by 2010. Daley, who strongly opposed
the ordinance, could issue his first veto in 17 years if he gets two
aldermen to change their positions before the next council meeting on
Sept. 13.
"This is a national issue, and Chicago is really Ground Zero
because of our big-box ordinance," said Schakowsky. "I would hope the
mayor would look for other ways to bring companies like Wal-Mart and
Target to Chicago."
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